Gaming Machine And Playing Method Thereof

ABSTRACT

A gaming machine carries out varying display of symbols at plural reel display regions in a communal display. When a predetermined length of time has passed, symbols determined at a game result determination processing are stopped and display per reel display region. The gaming machine comprises a plurality of consoles each of which allows a player to carry out wagering operation. The gaming machine constantly accepts wagering carried out with the consoles. When wagering operation is carried out with a console, a game control unit specifies the wagering operation timing and determines a payout table corresponding to the wagering operation timing among plural payout tables predefined with different payout rate. A payout table is determined such that as wagering operation timing is made later, a lower-payout-rated payout table is associated with the wagering operation. When all symbols are stopped and displayed, the game control unit determines payout contents in accordance with the determined payout table associated with the wagering and payout is awarded to the player who carried out the wagering operation through the console.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO THE RELATED APPLICATION (S)

This application is based upon and claims a priority from the U.S.provisional Patent Application No. 60/881,483 filed on Jan. 22, 2007,the entire contents thereof are incorporated herein by reference.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to a gaming machine wherein a pluralnumber of players can participate in a game displayed in a communaldisplay by using a plurality of consoles. More particularly, it relatesto a gaming machine which has convenient game participation acceptancesystem.

2. Description of Related Art

There has conventionally been known a gaming machine which has a singlecommunal display for displaying a game and enables plural players toparticipate in a game (e.g., slot game, card game such as poker and thelike, roulette game, horse race game, etc.) displayed in the communaldisplay.

For example, US Patent Application Publications No. 2005/0059474A1, No.2005/0218590A1, and No. 2005/0282618A1 respectively disclose gamingmachines each of which has a single communal display to display a gameand enables plural players to participate in a game displayed in thecommunal display.

In the above such gaming machines, plural players participate in a gamewherein a plurality of consoles are allocated to the players. Therefore,generally, there is provided a predetermined participation acceptableperiod before a target game is executed. That is, the gaming machineaccepts each console's participation in a game (participation in a game,wagering upon an upcoming game result) during the participationacceptable period, however, closes the “participation in a game” whenthe participation acceptable period terminates and subsequently goes onto “game execution”. After that, the gaming machine displays the game inthe communal display and awards a payout to each participant console inaccordance with a game result.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The object of the present invention is to provide a gaming machine whichhas convenient game management system conventional ones did not have.

Therefore, in order to achieve the object, according to a first aspectof the present invention, there is provided a gaming machine comprising:a communal display for displaying game result; a plurality of consolesfor carrying out operation on a game; and a game controller programmedto operate (a) to determine game result to be displayed in the communaldisplay, (b) to divide the game result determined at (a) into pluraldisplay stages and sequentially display the game result in the communaldisplay per display stage; (c) to accept game participation of theplurality of consoles in accordance with participation operation by eachof the plurality of consoles and specify participation timing of each ofthe plurality of consoles; and (d) to change payout contents on the gameresult to be awarded to each of the plurality of consoles in accordancewith participation timing of each of the plurality of consoles.

Furthermore, according to a second aspect of the present invention,there is provided a gaming machine comprising: a communal display fordisplaying game result; a plurality of consoles for carrying outoperation on a game; and a game controller programmed to operate (a) todetermine game result to be displayed in the communal display, (b) todivide the game result determined at (a) into plural display stages andsequentially display the game result in the communal display per displaystage; (c) to accept game participation of a the plurality of consolesin accordance with participation operation by each of the plurality ofconsoles and specify participation timing of each of the plurality ofconsoles; (d) to select a payout table for each of the plurality ofconsoles among a plurality of payout tables of different payout ratedepending on participation timing of each of the plurality of consoles;and (e) to change payout contents on the game result to be awarded toeach of the plurality of consoles in accordance with the payout tableselected for each of the plurality of console.

Furthermore, according to a third aspect of the present invention, thereis provided a playing method of a gaming machine which makes a gamecontroller execute a game, display game result in a communal display,and allows plural players to participate in the game with a plurality ofconsoles, the playing method comprising the steps of: (a) determininggame result to be displayed in the communal display with the gamecontroller, (b) dividing the game result determined at (a) into pluraldisplay stages and sequentially displaying the game result in thecommunal display per display stage with the game controller; (c)accepting game participation of the plurality of consoles in accordancewith participation operation by each of the plurality of consoles andspecifying participation timing of each of the plurality of consoleswith the game controller; and (d) changing payout contents on the gameresult to be awarded to each of the plurality of consoles in accordancewith participation timing of each of the plurality of consoles with thegame controller.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The accompanying drawings, which are incorporated in and constitute apart of this specification illustrate embodiments of the invention and,together with the description, serve to explain the objects, advantagesand principles of the invention.

In the drawings,

FIG. 1 is a diagram for illustrating a feature of a gaming machinedirected to the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing an outline construction of thegaming machine;

FIG. 3 is a diagram illustrating a symbol display part of the gamingmachine;

FIG. 4 is a diagram illustrating pay lines of the gaming machine;

FIG. 5 is a diagram illustrating a sequential display manner of thesymbol display part during a game executed by the gaming machine;

FIG. 6 is an exemplary first payout table of the gaming machine;

FIG. 7 is an exemplary block diagram illustrating a control system ofthe gaming machine;

FIG. 8 is a perspective view showing an outline construction of aconsole which is one of composing elements of the gaming machine;

FIG. 9 is a diagram illustrating a wagering screen displayed in a liquidcrystal display installed in the console;

FIG. 10 is an exemplary block diagram illustrating a control system ofthe console which is one of the composing elements of the gamingmachine;

FIG. 11 is a flowchart of a main control processing program to beexecuted for the gaming machine;

FIG. 12 is a flow chart of a wagering acceptance processing program tobe executed for the gaming machine;

FIG. 13 is a diagram for illustrating relation between each payout tableand wagering timing;

FIG. 14 is an exemplary fourth payout table of the gaming machine; and

FIG. 15 is a flowchart of a control processing program to be executedfor a console which is one of composing elements of the gaming machine.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

Here will be described an embodiment of the inventive gaming machine byreferring to drawings.

A gaming machine 1 of the present embodiment allows plural players toparticipate in a game displayed in a communal display 20 installed on acommunal display device 2 through plural consoles 4 (see FIG. 2).Accordingly, a player can participate in and enjoy the game to beexecuted in the communal display device 2 by carrying out wageringoperation with one of the consoles 4.

In the gaming machine of the present embodiment, so-called slot game isexecuted. That is, in the gaming machine 1, varying display of symbols46 and varying stopped display of symbols 46 are carried out in a symboldisplay part 7 of the communal display 20. Symbols 46 are sequentiallystopped and displayed per unit of reel display region (five reel displayregions, namely, a first reel display region 23 through a fifth reeldisplay region 27, see FIG. 5). In case a combination of stopped anddisplayed symbols 46 defined by each pay line (see FIG. 4) coincideswith a predetermined winning symbol combination (see FIG. 6), a payoutof the winning symbol combination is awarded to the winning player.

There will be described a feature of a gaming machine directed to thepresent embodiment by referring to drawings. FIG. 1 is a diagram forillustrating the feature of the gaming machine directed to the presentembodiment.

As shown in FIG. 1, the gaming machine 1 of the present embodiment isprogrammed to repeatedly execute a unit game consisting of a generalwagering period and a game execution period. A general wagering periodis a period to only accept participation (i.e., wagering operation andthe like) of plural consoles 4 (see FIG. 2) composing the gaming machine1. On the other hand, a game execution period is a period to execute aunit game of slot game while accepting wagering operation of eachconsole 4 after a lapse of a general wagering period. That is, duringthe game execution period, wagering operation is accepted similar to thegeneral wagering period and varying display and varying-stopped displayof symbols 46 in the symbol display part 7 is carried out thereby toaward a payout (e.g., coins, medals, or gaming valuables equivalent tosuch gaming media) to each console 4 depending on a game result.

That is, the gaming machine 1 of the present embodiment allows theplayer to participate in a slot game through a console 4 any time eitherthe general wagering period or the game execution period. In other word,in the gaming machine 1, the player can participate in the slot game anytime during execution of a unit game. The gaming machine 1 is thuscapable of providing players with convenience of “free gameparticipation timing”.

Furthermore, in the gaming machine 1, a wagering period corresponding toa game execution period is divided into five periods, namely, a firstwagering period through a fifth wagering period (see FIG. 1). The firstwagering period through the fifth wagering period are individuallydefined with a predetermined length of time. Termination of each of thefirst wagering period through the fifth wagering period is associatedwith stopped and displayed timing of symbols 46 at each reel displayregion (see FIG. 3).

To be more specific, termination of a first wagering period commencingwith varying display of symbols 46 is associated with stopped anddisplay timing (time ta) of symbols 46 at a first reel display region23. In simultaneous with the termination of the first wagering period, asecond wagering period commences. Termination of the second wageringperiod is associated with stopped and display timing (time tb) ofsymbols 46 at a second reel display region 24. Similarly, termination ofa third wagering period, that of a fourth wagering period, and that of afifth wagering period are associated with stopped and display timing(time tc, time td and time te) of symbols 46 at a third reel displayregion 25, at a fourth reel region 26 and a fifth reel region 27,respectively (see FIG. 1).

The first wagering period through the fifth wagering period areassociated with a first payout table through a fifth payout table,respectively. That is, in the gaming machine 1, a payout table to beapplied to wagering operation is determined depending on “which timingto carry out wagering operation among a general wagering period, a firstwagering period through a fifth wagering period”.

The first payout table through the fifth payout table individuallydefine winning symbol combinations (see FIG. 6 and FIG. 14) andpredetermined payout amount for each of the winning symbol combinations,wherein payout rate is made different among the five payout tables (seeFIG. 13).

As described, in the gaming machine 1, payout of a unit game isdetermined in accordance with a combination of symbols 46 stopped anddisplayed on each pay line (see FIG. 4) and payout amount of a winningsymbol combination defined in a payout table. Since an applicable payouttable is changed depending on wagering operation timing in the gamingmachine 1, payout contents to be awarded can be changed depending on thewagering operation timing. Since “change of payout contents inaccordance with wagering operation timing” is brought, the gamingmachine 1 is thus capable of providing players with “variety of payoutcontents in accordance with a game result”.

Furthermore, as wagering operation timing is made later, alower-payout-rated payout table is associated with the wageringoperation as shown in FIG. 13, which makes it possible to “award payoutin accordance with game progress (the number of already stopped anddisplayed symbols 46)”. As to the slot game, difficulty of winningpayout varies depending on the number of already stopped and displayedsymbols 46, the gaming machine 1 is capable of “providing differentamount of payout depending on difficulty of winning payout”.

Here will be described the schematic structure of the gaming machine 1of the present embodiment by referring to FIG. 2. FIG. 2 is aperspective view showing an outline construction of the gaming machine 1directed to the first embodiment.

As shown in FIG. 2, the gaming machine 1 of the present embodimentcomprises the communal display device 2 and a plurality of consoles 4.

The communal display device 2 comprises a communal display 20. Thecommunal display 20 displays slot game in which plural players canparticipate. Furthermore, the communal display 20 displays a symboldisplay part 7 when a slot game is executed. In the symbol display part7, varying display and varying-stopped display of symbols 46 are carriedout.

The structure of the symbol display part 7 will be described later byreferring to drawings.

Furthermore, speakers 21, and LEDs 22 are provided at an upper portionof the communal display device 2. The speakers 21 output music and soundeffects along game progress. The LEDs 22 flash for various amusingeffects depending on game progress.

There will be described the structure of the symbol display part 7 to bedisplayed in the communal display 20 in detail. FIG. 3 is a diagramillustrating the schematic structure of the symbol display part 7.

As shown in FIG. 3, the symbol display part 7 consists of fifteen symboldisplay regions 31 through 45. A symbol 46 is stopped and displayed ineach symbol display region. Accordingly, fifteen symbols 46 in total arestopped and displayed in the symbol display part 7.

The symbol display part 7 includes five reel display regions each ofwhich has three rows arranged vertically (see FIG. 3). That is, thesymbol display part 7 consists of a first reel display region 23 througha fifth reel display region 27. For example, a third reel display region25 consists of a symbol display region 37, a symbol display region 38and a symbol display region 39.

In each reel display region, varying display and varying-stopped displayof symbols 46 are carried out per defined symbol column. Each symbolcolumn consists of ten kinds of symbols 46, namely, “SEVEN”, “3-BAR”,“2-BAR”, “BAR”, “SMILE”, “4SUN”, “STAR”, “MOON”, “HEART” and “CHERRY”.Accordingly, a symbol 46 constituting a symbol column of a correspondingreel display region is stopped and displayed in a symbol display regionin the reel display region.

In the symbol display part 7 of the gaming machine 1, five pay lines(pay line (A) through pay line (E)) are defined (see FIG. 4). Each payline consists of five symbol display regions. Each pay line isconstituted by five symbol display regions each of which belongs to eachreel display region.

For example, a pay line (B) consists of a symbol display region 32, asymbol display region 35, a symbol display region 38, a symbol displayregion 41 and a symbol display region 44 and these symbol displayregions belong to the first reel display region 23 through the fifthreel display region 27, respectively (see FIG. 3 and FIG. 4).

As described, in the gaming machine 1, prize judgment is made inaccordance with symbols 46 stopped and displayed on a pay line (i.e.,five symbol display regions constituting the pay line). Furthermore, thegaming machine 1 allows the player to wager gaming values per pay line.

Back to FIG. 2, there will be described schematic structure of thegaming machine 1. As shown in FIG. 2, the gaming machine 1 comprises aplurality (five in the present embodiment) of consoles 4. At eachconsole 4, wagering operation on slot game is carried out by a player.Since each console 4 is arranged in front of the communal display device2, a player seated at a console 4 can carry out operation for a game(e.g., wagering operation on the slot game, and the like) watchingdisplayed contents in the communal display 20.

Next, a schematic structure of each console 4 will be described byreferring to drawings. FIG. 8 is a view showing an outline constructionof the console 4 directed to the present embodiment.

As shown in FIG. 8, a console 4 comprises a liquid crystal display 10, atouch panel 11, operation buttons 12, a coin insertion slot 13, a billinsertion slot 14, and a coin payout opening 15. The liquid crystaldisplay 10 is mounted on an upper face of the console 4 and serves as adisplay device for displaying a wagering operation screen (see FIG. 9)for a slot game, a game result screen and the like.

The touch panel 11 is provided on a front face of the liquid crystaldisplay 10. When a wagering screen is displayed in the liquid crystaldisplay 10, the touch panel 11 serves as operation means.

The operation buttons 12 are operation means for carrying out variousoperations such as payout operation to request a payout awarded to thetarget console 4. The coin insertion slot 13 is a portion for allowingthe player to insert coins used as gaming value and similarly, the billinsertion slot 14 is a portion for allowing the player to insert bills.The coin payout opening 15 is a portion from which coins or medalscorresponding to credits stocked in the console 4 are dispensed aspayout of credits stocked in the console 4 when a payout operation iscarried out with the operation buttons 12.

There will be described the wagering screen to be displayed in theliquid crystal display 10 by referring to drawings. FIG. 9 is a diagramillustrating the wagering screen to be displayed in the liquid crystaldisplay 10.

As shown in FIG. 9, when the wagering screen is displayed, there areadditionally displayed the symbol display part 7 and five pay lines, andat the same time, there are formed pay line designation operationregions 80, wagering setting operation regions 81, a credit amountdisplay part 82 and a payout amount display part 83 in the liquidcrystal display 10 and the touch panel 11.

The pay line designation operation regions 80 are regions formed at edgeparts of the five pay lines in the liquid crystal display 10. The playercan designate a pay line for wagering by touching a part of the touchpanel 11 where a corresponding to pay line designation operation region80 is located.

The wagering setting operation regions 81 are regions for the player todetermine the number of wagering upon a pay line designated by operatingthe pay line designation operation regions 80. As shown in FIG. 9, thereare provided three kinds of wagering setting operation region 81 fordesignating “1”, “5”, and “10” in the gaming machine 1. Accordingly, awagering amount corresponding to any one of “1”, “5”, and “10” can beset and wagered upon a designated pay line by touching a part of thetouch panel 11 where a desired wagering setting operation region 81 islocated.

The credit amount display part 82 is a display part for displayingamount of credits (gaming values) the player of the target console 4currently holds. The payout amount display part 83 is a display part fordisplaying payout amount awarded to the player through a unit game.

Next, there will be described a playing method of the gaming machine 1directed to the present embodiment. The player who desires to play agame with the gaming machine 1 is seated in front of a console 4,designates a play line among the pay line (A) through the pay line (E)by operating the pay line designation operation regions 80 and carriesout wagering operation to wager upon the pay line designated by touchinga wagering setting operation region 81.

Timing to carry out the wagering operation may be any time during a unitgame execution period and it does not matter whether it is in a generalwagering period or a game execution period.

During a game execution period, varying display of symbols 46 is carriedout at the symbol display part 7 in the communal display 20. Per reeldisplay region, varying-stopped display of symbols 46 is carried out inthe order from the first reel display region 23 to the fifth reeldisplay region 27 with a predetermined length of time being taken (S6through S10).

When symbols 46 are stopped and displayed in all of the symbol displayregions 31 through 45 constituting the symbol display part 7, prizejudgment is made with respect to each pay line and a payout is awardedto each console 4 which participated in the game in accordance withprize judgment result.

It is to be noted that a payout table used at the timed of the prizejudgment is a payout table determined among the first payout tablethrough the fifth payout table in accordance with wagering operationtiming.

Next, there will be described a control system of the gaming machine 1directed to the present embodiment by referring to drawings. FIG. 7 isan exemplary block diagram illustrating the control system of the gamingmachine 1 directed to the present embodiment.

As shown in FIG. 7, the gaming machine 1 comprises a game controller 50,the plurality of consoles 4, the communal display 20 and variousperipheral devices.

The game controller 50 essentially comprises a game control unit 55. Thegame control unit 55 consists of a CPU 56, a ROM 57, and a RAM 58. TheROM 57 stores various programs for executing processing required tocontrol the entirety of the gaming machine 1, data tables and the like.That is, in the ROM 57, there are stored a main control program (seeFIG. 11), a wagering accept processing program (see FIG. 12), and afirst payout table through a fifth payout table. The CPU 56 is aprocessing unit for executing various control programs and serves as thenerve center of control under the game control unit 55. The RAM 58 is amemory for temporarily storing various data processed by the CPU 56.

Through an I/O interface 61, the game control unit 5 is connected to anLED driving circuit 59, a communication interface 60, a sound controlcircuit 62 and an image control circuit 63.

The LED driving circuit 59 is connected to the LEDs 22, whereby flashingmanner of the LEDs 22 as game effects are changed depending on gameprogress in accordance with control of the game controller 50. Thecommunication interface 60 is connected to a communication interface 74of each console 4 which constitutes a part of the gaming machine 1. Thatis, the communication interface 60 is an interface for transmitting dataand signals between the game control unit 55 and each console 4. Thesound control circuit 62 is connected to the speakers 21 so as tocontrol the speakers 21 to output predetermined music and a sound effectin accordance with the control of the game controller 50.

The image control circuit 63 is connected to the communal display 20 andserves as a control circuit for displaying images in the communaldisplay 20 in accordance with processing result of the CPU 56. That is,varying display and varying-stopped display of symbols 46 in thecommunal display 20 is carried out by the image control circuit 63 alonggame progress.

Next, there will be described a control system of each console 4 whichconstitutes a part of the gaming machine 1 by referring to drawings.FIG. 10 is an exemplary diagram illustrating the control system of theconsole 4.

As shown in FIG. 10, the control system of the console 4 comprises aconsole control unit 65 which is essential to the system, a CPU 66, ROM67 and RAM 68.

The ROM 67 stores various programs for executing processing required tocontrol the console 4, data tables and the like. That is, the ROM 67stores a main control program of the console 4 (see FIG. 15) and suchlike various control programs.

The CPU 66 is a processing unit for executing a control program storedin the ROM 67. That is, the CPU 66 serves as the nerve center of controlrelating to wagering processing, payout processing and the like.

The RAM 68 is a memory for temporarily storing various data. To be morespecific, the RAM 68 stores data processed by the CPU 66, namely, amountof credits currently stocked in the console 4, a wagering targetselected by the player, amount of wagering (the amount of credits)wagered upon the wagering target and the like.

Through the I/O interface 69, the console control unit 65 is connectedto a display driving circuit 70, a touch panel driving circuit 71, ahopper driving circuit 72, a payout completion signal circuit 73 and acommunication interface 74.

The display driving circuit 70 is connected to the liquid crystaldisplay 10 installed in the console 4. That is, the display drivingcircuit 70 is a circuit for executing display control of the liquidcrystal display 10. Accordingly, what is displayed in the liquid crystaldisplay 10 is controlled by the console control unit 65 and the displaydriving circuit 70.

The touch panel driving circuit 71 is connected to the touch panel 11provided on a front face of the liquid crystal display 10. That is, thetouch panel driving circuit 71 is a circuit for transmitting anoperation signal to the console control unit 65 when an operation on thetouch panel 11 is made. Thereby, the console control unit 65 can detectan operation made on the touch panel 11 in case a wagering screen and isdisplayed in the liquid display 10.

The hopper driving circuit 72 is a circuit for controlling drivingmanner of the hopper 75 connected to the hopper driving circuit 72 inaccordance with a control signal from the console control unit 65. Thepayout completion signal circuit 73 is a circuit for transmitting apayout completion signal to the console control unit 65 when coins to bepaid out to the coin payout opening 15 are detected by the coindetecting unit 76 and predetermined number of coins are detected.Accordingly, at the console 4, predetermined number of coins dependingon a game result can be paid out in accordance with an operation withthe operation buttons 12.

The communication interface 74 is connected to the communicationinterface 60 of the game controller 50. Since the communicationinterface 60 is connected to the game control unit 55, as described, thecommunication interface 74 transmits data and signals between to theconsole 4 and the game control unit 55.

Next, there will be described various control programs to be executedfor the gaming machine 1 directed to the present embodiment by referringto drawings.

Firstly, there will be described a main control program to be executedby the game control unit 55 of the gaming machine 1. FIG. 11 is aflowchart of the main control program for the game control unit 55 ofthe gaming machine 1.

As shown in FIG. 11, when the power of the gaming machine 1 is turnedon, the game control unit 55 firstly carries out an initializationprocessing (S1). At the initialization processing (S1), processing toinitialize contents stored in the RAM 58, various peripheral devices andthe like is carried out. After a termination of the initializationprocessing (S1), the game control unit 55 goes on to a processing at S2.

Going on to S2, the game control unit 55 commences a unit game. That is,the game control unit 55 commences measurement with a clock signalconstituting a part of the game control unit 55 to commence a generalwagering period (see FIG. 1). After commencing the general wageringperiod of a unit game, the game control unit 55 goes on to a processingat S3.

Going on to S3, the game control unit 55 refers to the clock circuit andjudges whether or the general wagering period has terminated. In case itis judged that the general wagering period has terminated (S3: YES), thegame control unit 55 goes to a processing at S4. In case it is judgedthat the general wagering period has not terminated (S3: NO), the gamecontrol unit 55 returns to the processing at S3 and holds processinguntil the general wagering period terminates.

Going on to S4, the game control unit 55 executes a game resultdetermination processing. The game result determination processing (S4)is to determine game result of a unit game. That is, at S4, the gamecontrol unit 55 determines fifteen symbols 46 to be stopped anddisplayed in the symbol display regions 31 through 45 constituting thesymbol display part 7.

To be more specific, the game control unit 55 executes a lottery programstored in the ROM 57 and extracts a random number value from apredetermined random number value range. Further on, the game controlunit 55 determines symbols 46 to be stopped and displayed in symboldisplay regions constituting respective reel display regions inaccordance with the extracted random number value and along symbolcolumns corresponding to the respective reel display regions 23 through27. Thereby, symbols 46 to be stopped and displayed in fifteen symboldisplay regions constituting the symbol display part 7 are determined.

After determining symbols 46 to be stopped and displayed in the symboldisplay regions 31 through 45 and storing the game result in the RAM 58,the game control unit 55 goes on to a processing at S5.

Next, the game control unit 55 sets a value of a counter N to “0” (S5)and commences varying display of symbols 46 in the symbol display part 7(S6). It is to be noted that the counter N indicates the number ofalready terminated wagering periods out of a first wagering periodthrough a fifth wagering period and the number of reel display regionswhere symbols 46 are already stopped and displayed. The counter N isincluded in the RAM 58.

Furthermore, varying display of symbols 46 at S7 is carried out persymbol column associated with each reel display region.

When varying display of symbols 46 in the symbol display part 7 iscommenced, the game control unit 55 goes on to a processing at S7.

Going on to S7, the game control unit 55 judges whether or not apredetermined length of time has terminated. To be more specific, thegame control unit 55 refers to the clock circuit constituting the gamecontrol unit 55 and detects whether or not a wagering period (i.e., timeta or time tb) has passed, whereby the judgment at S7 is made. Forexample, provided that it is in a first wagering period, the gamecontrol unit 55 judges whether or not a time ta has passed at S7.Furthermore, provided that it is in a fourth wagering period, the gamecontrol unit 55 judges whether or not a time td, termination time of thefourth wagering period, has passed.

In case the predetermined length of time has passed (S7: YES), the gamecontrol unit 55 goes on to a processing at S8. In case the predeterminedlength of time has not passed yet (S7: NO), the game control unit 55returns to the processing at S7 and holds the processing until thepredetermined length of time passes.

When the predetermined length of time passes, the game control unit 55adds “1” to the current value of the counter N in the RAM 58 (S8). Afterthat, the game control unit 55 stops varying display of symbols 46 in areel display region corresponding to the renewed value of the counter Nand displays three symbols 46 determined at the game resultdetermination processing (S4) in three symbol display regionsconstituting the corresponding reel display region, respectively (S9).

In case of N=1, “a reel display region corresponding to a value of thecounter N is the first reel display region 23 and in case of N=2, it isthe second reel display region 24. Similarly, the value of “N”corresponds to the third reel display region 25, the fourth reel displayregion 26 and the fifth reel display region 27 in respective cases ofN=3, 4 and 5.

By specifying a reel display region in accordance with the value of thecounter N, the game control unit 55 can specify symbol display regionsconstituting the target reel display region. Furthermore, at the gameresult determination processing (S4), a single symbol 46 is associatedwith each of the fifteen symbol display regions. Accordingly, the gamecontrol unit 55 is capable of specifying symbols 46 stopped anddisplayed in symbol display regions constituting the target reel displayregion and displaying the determined symbols 46 there.

After stopping and displaying symbols 46 determined at the game resultdetermination processing (S4) in the reel display region correspondingto the value of the counter N, the game control unit 55 goes on to aprocessing at S10.

Going on to S10, the game control unit 55 refers to the counter N in theRAM 58 and judges whether or not the value of the counter N is ”5”. Thecase that the value of the counter N is “5” corresponds to a situationthat symbols 46 determined at the game result determination processing(S4) are stopped and displayed in the fifth reel display region. Thatis, at S10, it is judged whether or not symbols 46 are stopped anddisplayed in all of the symbol display regions constituting the symboldisplay part 7.

In case the value of the counter N is “5” (S10: YES), the game controlunit 55 goes on to a processing at S11. In case the value of the counterN is not “5” (S10: NO), the game control unit 55 returns to theprocessing at S7.

Going on to S11, the game control unit 55 executes a prize judgmentprocessing. The prize judgment processing (S11) is to judge whether ornot symbols 46 stopped and displayed in symbol display regions of eachpay line, determined in accordance with the game result determinationprocessing (S4), coincides with a winning symbol combination (see FIG. 6and FIG. 14). After making prize judgment per pay line, the game controlunit 55 stores the prize judgment result in the RAM 58 and goes on to aprocessing at S12.

Going on to S12, the game control unit 55 executes payout contentsdetermination processing. At the payout contents determinationprocessing (S12), the game control unit 55 determines payout contents tobe awarded to consoles 4 which participated in the slot game inaccordance with wagering information and the prize judgment resultobtained at the prize judgment processing (S11).

It is to be noted that wagering information is transmitted from theconsole 4 per wagering operation (S53) and stored in the RAM 58 alongwagering acceptance processing to be described later (S24). Furthermore,the wagering information consists of wagering target (i.e., pay line),the number of wagering and payout table data. The payout table data aredata to be determined by the wagering acceptance processing program andindicate any one the first payout table through the fifth payout table.That is, at the payout contents determination processing (S12), the gamecontrol unit 55 determines payout contents per wagering operation unitin accordance with prize judgment result, wagering target, the number ofwagering and payout table of the payout table data to be applied alongthe wagering information (e.g., the third payout table).

After determining payout contents to all of wagering information storedin the RAM 58, the game control unit 55 transmits payout data to eachconsole 4 which transmitted its wagering information. Receiving payoutdata, the console 4 can award payout to the player depending on thewagering operation.

After terminating the payout contents determination processing (S12),the game control unit 55 returns to the processing at S2, whereby thegaming machine 1 can commence a new unit game.

Next, there will be described the wagering acceptance processing programto be executed for the game control unit 55 of the gaming machine 1 byreferring to drawings. FIG. 12 is a flowchart of the wagering acceptanceprocessing program.

It is to be noted that the wagering acceptance processing program isexecuted by the game control unit 55 in parallel to the afore-mentionedmain control processing program.

When the power of the gaming machine 1 is turned on, similar to the maincontrol processing program, the game control unit 55 commences executionof the wagering acceptance processing program and judges whether or notto have received wagering information (wagering target and the number ofwagering) from each console 4 constituting a part of the gaming machine1. In case of receiving wagering information from the console 4 (S21:YES), the game control unit 55 goes on to a processing at S22. In caseof not receiving wagering information (S21: NO), the game control unit55 terminates the wagering acceptance program.

After terminating the wagering acceptance processing program, the gamecontrol unit 55 commences execution of the wagering acceptanceprocessing program again. That is, the wagering acceptance program isexecuted repeatedly as long as the power of the gaming machine 1 isbeing supplied.

Receiving wagering information from the console 4 (S21: YES), the gamecontrol unit 55 refers to the clock circuit and specifies a point intime to receive the wagering information. After storing wageringinformation in the RAM 58 together with accept-time data indicating thepoint in time to receive the wagering information, the game control unit55 goes on to a processing at S23.

Going on to the processing at S23, the game control unit 55 executes apayout table determination processing. At the payout table determinationprocessing (S23), the game control unit 55 determines a payout table tobe applied to the wagering information among the first payout tablethrough the fifth payout table in accordance with the accept-time data.

As described, in the gaming machine 1 of the present embodiment, thereare defined five kinds of payout tables, namely, the first payout tablethrough the fifth payout table (see FIG. 1 and FIG. 6). As shown in FIG.13, the first payout table through the fifth payout table are defined tohave different payout rate of “100%”, “60%”, “40%”, “20%” and “10%”,respectively, in the order from the first payout table to the fifthpayout table.

In this regard, there will be described the matter of payout ratedifference among the five payout tables by taking the first payout tableof “100%” payout rate and the fourth payout table of “20%” payout rateas an example.

As shown in FIG. 6, according to the first payout table, it is definedto award “100” as payout for “a winning symbol combination including twoSEVEN symbols stopped and displayed on a pay line”. On the other hand,according to the fourth payout table shown in FIG. 14, it is defined toaward “20” as payout for the above specified winning symbol combination.That is, the payout for the winning symbol combination defined with thefourth payout table is 20% of the payout for the same winning symbolcombination defined with the first payout table.

As shown in FIG. 6 and FIG. 14, payouts for all winning symbolcombinations defined with the fourth payout table are defined to be 20%of the payouts for all of the corresponding winning symbol combinationsdefined with the first payout table. Accordingly, the payout ratedefined with the fourth payout table is 20% of the payout rate definedwith the first payout table.

It is to be noted that, similar to the case of the fourth payout table,payout rate of the second payout table, that of the third payout tableand that of the fifth payout table are defined to be respectivelypredetermined rate of that of the first payout table. That is, as to thesecond payout table, the third payout table and fifth payout table,payout rate of each winning symbol combination are defined to bepredetermined percentage (“60%”, “40%”, “10%”) of that of the firstpayout table.

There will be described a payout table determination processing (S23) indetail by referring to drawings. As shown in FIG. 1 and FIG. 13, thefirst payout table through the fifth payout table are associated with ageneral wagering period, a first wagering period through a five wageringperiod. To be more specific, a general wagering period and a firstwagering period are associated with the first payout table, and thesecond wagering period is associated with the second payout table. Inthis regard, the third wagering period, the fourth wagering period andthe fifth wagering period are associated with the third payout table,the fourth payout table and the fifth payout table, respectively.

Accordingly, at the payout table determination processing (S23), thegame control unit 55 can detect “when the target wagering informationwas generated” by referring to accept-time data included in wageringinformation the game control unit 55 has received. Thereby, the gamecontrol unit 55 can determine a payout table corresponding to thereceipt time of the target wagering information from the first payouttable through the fifth payout table and make payout table data of thedetermined payout table associated with the target wagering information.

For example, in case of receiving certain wagering information during athird wagering period, i.e., between the time tc and the time td, thegame control unit 55 associates the target wagering information with thepayout table data directed to the third payout table.

After determining a payout table to be associated with accept-time data,the game control unit 55 associates the target wagering information withpayout table data of the determined payout tale and goes on to aprocessing at S24.

After terminating the payout table determination processing (S23), thegame control unit 55 adds the payout table data associated with thetarget wagering information to the wagering information and stores thewagering information inclusive of the added payout table data in the RAM58. It is to be noted that wagering information includes identificationdata for identifying a console 4 which has transmitted the targetwagering information.

After storing the wagering information in the RAM 58, the game controlunit 55 terminates the wagering acceptance processing program. Afterterminating the wagering acceptance processing program, the game controlunit 55 commences execution of the wagering acceptance processingprogram again. Thereby, the gaming machine 1 is capable of acceptingwagering operation of each console 4 constantly as long as the maincontrol processing program is being executed by the game control unit55.

Next, there will be described a main control processing program to beexecuted for each console 4 in detail by referring to drawings. FIG. 15is a flow chart of a control processing program to be executed for theconsole 4.

When the power of the gaming machine 1 is turned on, the console controlunit 65 firstly causes the liquid crystal display 10 to display awagering screen (see FIG. 9) through the display driving circuit 70(S51). After that, the console control unit 65 goes on to a processingat S52.

Going on to the processing at S52, the console control unit 65 judgeswhether or not a wagering operation has been carried out by the player.To be more specific, the console control unit 65 makes the judgment onS52 in accordance with presence/absence of operation signals from touchpanel 11 corresponding to touched locations of the pay line designationoperation regions 80 and the wagering setting operation regions 81. Incase a wagering operation has been carried out (S52: YES), the consolecontrol unit 65 adds identification data of the target console 4 to thewagering information (wagering target, the number of wagering)determined in accordance with the target wagering operation andtransmits the wagering information to the game control unit 55 (S53).After transmitting the target wagering information to the game controlunit 55, the console control unit 65 goes on to a processing at S54. Incase a wagering operation has not been carried out (S52: NO), theconsole control unit 65 goes on to the processing at S54 skipping theprocessing at S53.

At S54, the console control unit 65 judges whether or not to havereceived payout data. The target payout data here corresponds to payoutdata transmitted from the game control unit 55 at S12 and indicatespayout contents determined in accordance with a payout tablecorresponding to timing of the wagering operation, wagering informationand game result.

In case of having received payout data transmitted from the game controlunit 55 (S54: YES), the console control unit 65 adds payout based on theassociated payout data to credits stored in the RAM 68. Furthermore, theconsole control unit 65 causes the liquid crystal display 10 to displaya game result screen (not shown) in accordance with the target payoutdata through the display driving circuit 70 (S55). After causing theliquid crystal display 10 to display the game result screen, the consolecontrol unit 65 goes on to a processing at S56. In case of no havingreceived the payout data transmitted from the game control unit 55 (S54:NO), the console control unit 65 goes on to the processing at S56.

Going to the processing at S56, the console control unit 65 judgeswhether or not a payout operation has been carried out. To be morespecific, the console control unit 65 carries out judgment on S56 inaccordance with presence/absence of a receipt of an operation signalfrom one of the operation buttons 12.

In case a payout operation has been carried out by the player (S56:YES), the console control unit 65 carries out a payout processing (S57).In case a payout operation has not been carried out by the player (S56:NO), the console control unit 65 returns to the processing at S51.

At the payout processing (S57), the console control unit 65 carries outa processing to payout coins corresponding to credit amount stored inthe RAM 68 to the coin payout opening 15. After terminating the payoutprocessing (S57), the console control unit 65 returns to the processingat S51 to cause the liquid crystal display 10 to display a wageringscreen again.

Since the processing is return to S51, the player can carry out a newwagering operation to the slot game with the console 4.

As described so far, according to the gaming machine 1 and the playingmethod of the gaming machine 1 directed to the present embodiment,participation in a unit game in a form of wagering operation with theconsole 4 is acceptable while the slot game in the gaming machine 1 isbeing executed. Accordingly, the player can participate in and enjoy theslot game constantly without participation restriction depending on gameprogress of the slot machine. That is, the gaming machine 1 and theplaying method of the gaming machine 1 directed to the presentembodiment is thus capable of providing players with convenience of“free game participation timing”.

Additionally, in the gaming machine 1 and the playing method of thegaming machine 1 directed to the present embodiment, an appropriatepayout table is determined among plural payout tables of differentpayout rate at the payout table determination processing (S23) dependingon wagering operation timing (i.e., time when receiving wageringinformation). Payout contents of the target wagering information aredetermined in accordance with the determined payout table (S12) and thepayout is awarded to the player (S54, S57).

That is, since payout contents to be awarded for certain game result arevariously changed depending on wagering operation timing, the gamingmachine 1 and the playing method of the gaming machine 1 directed to thepresent embodiment is capable of providing players with “variety ofpayout contents depending on game result”.

Additionally, in the gaming machine 1 and the playing method of thegaming machine 1 directed to the present embodiment, an appropriatepayout table is determined among the first payout table through thefifth payout table at the payout table determination processing (S23)depending on wagering operation timing, and payout is awarded inaccordance with the determined payout table. At the payout tabledetermination processing (S23), as the wagering operation timing islater, a lower-payout-rated payout table is applied to the targetwagering information.

In the slot game executed with the gaming machine 1, every time apredetermined length of time terminates, varying display of symbols 46in each reel display region is stopped sequentially in the order fromthe first reel display region 23 to the fifth reel display region. Thatis, a game result is sequentially informed of the players along a lapseof a predetermined length of time.

As described, the player can participate in the slot game any time bymeans of wagering operation. Therefore, the player can also participatein the target unit game at a stage in which symbols 46 have been stoppedand displayed in plural reel display regions (e.g., the first reeldisplay region 23 through the fourth reel display region 26). In thiscase, since a part of the game result has already been informed of theplayer, the player can predict a pay line which is likely to have awinning symbol combination judging from already stopped and displayedsymbols 46. Accordingly, by delaying wagering operation timing, theplayer can win a payout more easily in comparison with early wageringoperation carried out when varying of symbols 46 is just commenced.

In this regard, as shown in FIG. 1 and FIG. 14, each of the first payouttable through the fifth payout table is associated with stop and displaytiming of symbols 46 in each reel display region. Accordingly, thepayout table determination processing (S24) is carried out such that aswagering operation timing is made later, a lower-payout-rated payouttable is associated with the wagering operation.

Accordingly, payout in accordance with a high-payout-rated payout tableis awarded to a player who carried out a wagering operation when a unitgame just commenced whereas payout in accordance with a low-payout-ratedpayout table is awarded to a player who carried out a wagering operationwhen a predetermined length of time passed from commencement of the gamewhere winning of payout is easier.

That is, in the gaming machine 1, an appropriate payout table isselected among plural payout tables of different payout rate dependingon game progress (i.e., stage of already-informed game result). Thereby,the gaming machine 1 is capable of preventing “difference of difficultyto win a payout depending on game progress”, a negative part which iscaused in case of allowing players to participate in a unit game anytime. Furthermore, the gaming machine 1 is capable of providing playerswho participate in a game with plural consoles 4 with joy of game underthe sense of fairness without arising sense of unfairness among playerswho participated in the unit game at different timing.

Furthermore, according to the gaming machine 1 directed to the presentembodiment, an appropriate payout table is selected from plural payouttables (first payout table through fifth payout table) respectivelypredefined with different payout rate. Therefore, appropriate payoutcontents depending on wagering timing can be determined withoutprocessional burden on the game control unit 55.

It is to be noted that the present invention is not restricted to theabove-described embodiment but, not to mention, it can be variouslyimproved and changed within the scope not departing from the subjectmatter thereof.

For example, the gaming machine 1 of the present embodiment is a gamingmachine for executing so-called slot game. However, kind of game is notrestricted to slot game. That is, games for the inventive gaming machinemay be any kinds of games of which game result is informed of playerswith sequential step. Horse race game (e.g., game in which order of racehorses' arrival is the wagering target), and the like can be applied tothe game.

As to the slot game executed with the gaming machine 1 directed to thepresent embodiment, the first reel display region 23 through the fifthreel display region 27 are sequentially stopped and displayed so asinform players of game result with sequential step. The number ofsequential steps to inform of game result may be any plural number. Thatis, the present invention is applicable to various games such asso-called three-reel slot game and the like.

Furthermore, in the present embodiment, the first reel display region 23through the fifth reel display region 27 are sequentially stopped anddisplayed in the order from the first reel display region. However, theorder for the reel display region to stop and display can be determinedfreely. For example, the order for the reel display region to stop anddisplay symbols 46 can be determined randomly so that game result shouldbe informed with sequential step in accordance with the determinedorder.

In the present embodiment, the payout table determination processing(S23) and the payout contents determination processing (S12) areexecuted by the game control unit 55. However, it is also possible tomake the console control unit 65 execute the above specified processing.In that case, a wagering target and the number of wagering are stored inthe RAM 68 of a console 68, and specifying of the wagering operationtiming and determination of a payout table to be applied to the wageringare carried out by at the end of the console 4. Accordingly, the consolecontrol unit 65 can determine appropriate payout contents by onlyreceiving game result from the game control unit 55, whereby load due tocommunicational processing between the game control unit 55 and theconsole control unit 65 can be lessened.

1. A gaming machine comprising: a communal display for displaying game result; a plurality of consoles for carrying out operation on a game; and a game controller programmed to operate (a) to determine game result to be displayed in the communal display, (b) to divide the game result determined at (a) into plural display stages and sequentially display the game result in the communal display per display stage; (c) to accept game participation of the plurality of consoles in accordance with participation operation by each of the plurality of consoles and specify participation timing of each of the plurality of consoles; and (d) to change payout contents on the game result to be awarded to each of the plurality of consoles in accordance with participation timing of each of the plurality of consoles.
 2. A gaming machine according to claim 1, wherein the game controller selects a payout table among a plurality of payout tables of different payout rate depending on participation timing of each of the plurality of consoles and determines payout contents to be awarded to each of the plurality of consoles along the game result in accordance with a selected payout table.
 3. A gaming machine according to claim 1, wherein the game controller specifies display stage directed to participation timing with respect to each of the plurality of consoles and changes payout contents on the game result in accordance with a specified display stage.
 4. A gaming machine according to claim 1, wherein the game controller measures lapse time from a point in time to commence a game in the communal display, specifies participation timing of each of the plurality of consoles in accordance with measurement of the lapse time, and changes payout contents on the game result in accordance with participation timing within the lapse time.
 5. A gaming machine comprising: a communal display for displaying game result; a plurality of consoles for carrying out operation on a game; and a game controller programmed to operate (a) to determine game result to be displayed in the communal display, (b) to divide the game result determined at (a) into plural display stages and sequentially display the game result in the communal display per display stage; (c) to accept game participation of a the plurality of consoles in accordance with participation operation by each of the plurality of consoles and specify participation timing of each of the plurality of consoles; (d) to select a payout table for each of the plurality of consoles among a plurality of payout tables of different payout rate depending on participation timing of each of the plurality of consoles; and (e) to change payout contents on the game result to be awarded to each of the plurality of consoles in accordance with the payout table selected for each of the plurality of console.
 6. A gaming machine according to claim 5, wherein the game controller specifies display stage of game result in the communal display directed to participation timing with respect to each of the plurality of consoles and selects a payout table for each of the plurality of consoles in accordance with specified display stage of game result in the communal display.
 7. A gaming machine according to claim 5, wherein the game controller measures lapse time from a point in time to commence a game in the communal display, specifies participation timing of each of the plurality of consoles in accordance with measurement of the lapse time, and selects a payout table for each of the plurality of consoles in accordance with participation timing within the lapse time.
 8. A playing method of a gaming machine which makes a game controller execute a game, display game result in a communal display, and allows plural players to participate in the game with a plurality of consoles, the playing method comprising the steps of: (a) determining game result to be displayed in the communal display with the game controller, (b) dividing the game result determined at (a) into plural display stages and sequentially displaying the game result in the communal display per display stage with the game controller; (c) accepting game participation of the plurality of consoles in accordance with participation operation by each of the plurality of consoles and specifying participation timing of each of the plurality of consoles with the game controller; and (d) changing payout contents on the game result to be awarded to each of the plurality of consoles in accordance with participation timing of each of the plurality of consoles with the game controller. 